glutathione

American  

[gloo-tuh-thahy-ohn] / ˌglu təˈθaɪ oʊn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a crystalline, water-soluble peptide of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine, C 10 H 17 N 3 O 6 S, found in blood and in animal and plant tissues, and important in tissue oxidations and in the activation of some enzymes.

---

glutathione British  

/ ˌɡluːtəˈθaɪəʊn, -θaɪˈəʊn /

noun

1. biochem a tripeptide consisting of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine: important in biological oxidations and the activation of some enzymes. Formula: C 10 H 17 N 3 O 6 S

---

glutathione Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅′tə-thī′ōn′ /

1. A polypeptide consisting of glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid that occurs widely in plant and animal tissues. It is important in cellular respiration in both plants and animals, and serves as a cofactor for many enzymes. It is a major protective mechanism against oxidative stress. For example, it protects red blood cells from hydrogen peroxide, a toxic byproduct of certain metabolic reactions.

---

Etymology

Origin of glutathione

First recorded in 1920–25; gluta(mic acid) + thi- + -one

Example Sentences

That’s on top of the injections Leite gives herself regularly: NAD+, which she says makes her feel energized and alleviates her brain fog, and glutathione, which is marketed for antioxidant and immune support.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

“Vitamin C, zinc, key lime. I do my bees and my glutathione, and then I do my black walnuts because that’s a part of helping kill the parasites in the body.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Other sellers admitted using regulated ingredients such as kojic acid, hydroquinone and a powerful antioxidant, glutathione, which may cause rashes and other side-effects.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2025

But how glutathione actually enters mitochondria was unknown until 2021, when Birsoy and his team discovered that a transporter protein called SLC25A39 delivers the package.

From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2023

Eating adequate amounts of lean protein may also benefit the body's natural system by maintaining adequate levels of glutathione, the body's master detoxification enzyme, or catalyst.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2023